Jon Craig

Reporter

[email protected]

Pleasantville native Jon Craig is special editor for the Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Dutchess Daily Voice sites. He is also the primary reporter for Daily Voice Plus Politics in Westchester and Fairfield.

Jon graduated from Cornell University and received his master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Across a 35-year career, he's worked as a reporter for daily newspapers in Chicago, New York, Ohio & Washington, D.C and as managing editor for weekly newspapers in Rye, White Plains and Harrison.

Jon also writes periodically for the Cornell Chronicle.

Career Highlights:

  • Covered Metro-North train wreck that killed a motorist and five commuters, 2015
  • Researched state investigative project for PublicIntegrity.org, 2011-12
  • National MADD award for database analysis of repeat drunk drivers in Ohio, 2008.
  • Henry F. Guggenheim Fellow, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2010.
  • Sentenced to jail for protecting confidential sources (won on appeal), 1999.
  • Broke 30th anniversary story about Kent State shootings — using FBI records, resurrecting theory a student informant triggered fatal National Guard volley, May 2000.
  • Covered Ground Zero after Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
  • Uncovered voting problems before & during presidential recount in Ohio, 2004.
  • Witnessed botched Death Row execution of Romell Broom in 2009, one of more than a dozen I covered; Wrote about three inmates whose death sentences were commuted to life without parole.
  • Won IRE, SDX and multiple national & state awards for series led by Erik Kriss investigating New York General Assembly. 1994.
  • Guest lecturer at universities in NY & Ohio. Taught Syracuse high school journalism class.
  • Co-authored IRE-award winning series on illegal restraints/beatings at juvenile detention centers. Gov. Mario Cuomo had NY inspector general confirm what Hart Seely and I found at Division for Youth & fired top directors, 1993.
  • Survived Air Force Kool School training at North Pole, 1996.
  • Covered Persian Gulf wars, including 2002 bomb missions from Turkey and stateside Army/Air Guard training. 1991.
  • Supervised overnight coverage of Pan Am Flight 103 after Libyan bomb killed 35 Syracuse University students over Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988.
  • Covered aftermath of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s fatal plane crash from Cape Cod, 1999.
  • Greeted Kurt Vonnegut Jr. as Cornell Sun sports editor during daily's 100th anniversary dinner in May 1980. 

Jon Craig's Contributions

Port Chester Residents Elect Three Democrats, Three Republicans Port Chester Residents Elect Three Democrats, Three Republicans Port Chester Residents Elect Three Democrats, Three Republicans
Port Chester Residents Elect Three Democrats, Three Republicans PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- Port Chester residents elected three Democrats and three Republicans to their Board of Trustees on Tuesday. Democrats Gregory Adams, Daniel Brakewood and Luis Marino were elected along with Republicans Gene Ceccarelli, Bart Didden and Francis Ferrara. Democratic Mayor Dennis Pilla was elected last fall. Brakewood, Ceccarelli and Marino are incumbents, while Didden is a former trustee. They defeated two independent candidates, Alex Chavarria (Port Chester Pride) and Alejandro Payan (Port Chester Forward). Eight candidates competed for six open Board of Trustee seats i…
ArtsWestchester Exhibit Celebrates Women ArtsWestchester Exhibit Celebrates Women ArtsWestchester Exhibit Celebrates Women
ArtsWestchester Exhibit Celebrates Women WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A new art exhibit celebrating Women's History Month and what it means to be a woman opened this week at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. Sponsored by ArtsWestchester, the spring exhibit titled "SHE: Deconstructing Female Identity" features the work of 11 artists from the New York metropolitan area. Sculptures, paintings, clothing arrangements and sitting room full of books and history about women open a discussion on issues related to gender and identity. Featured artists include Laurel Garcia Colvin of Chappaqua, Marcy B. Freedman of Croton-on-Hudson, Ma…
Senator Wants End To Delays Building Taconic State Parkway Overpass Senator Wants End To Delays Building Taconic State Parkway Overpass Senator Wants End To Delays Building Taconic State Parkway Overpass
Senator Wants End To Delays Building Taconic State Parkway Overpass PUTNAM VALLEY, N.Y. - State Sen. Sue Serino expressed outrage over the delay in constructing the Pudding Street overpass after several more accidents were reported at the intersection this month. “Enough is enough,” the Hyde Park Republican said. Serino, whose Senate District includes Putnam and Dutchess counties, has been working to get the state Department of Transportation to make the issue a priority since she took office last January. Pudding Street crosses the Taconic State Parkway in Putnam Valley. “The Pudding Street overpass is clearly a danger and by ignoring it, the State is set…
Westchester Sixth Grader Returns To National Spelling Bee Westchester Sixth Grader Returns To National Spelling Bee Westchester Sixth Grader Returns To National Spelling Bee
Westchester Sixth Grader Returns To National Spelling Bee GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Harshita Shet won the Greenburgh School District's fourth annual spelling bee championships at Theodore Young Community Center on Friday. In May, the sixth grader will be going to Washington, D.C. for a second time to compete in the Scripps National Spelling bee championships, which is televised nationally.  Harshita won the last two local spelling bee competitions and had an impressive showing in Washington, D.C. in May 2014. Harshita advanced to Round 4 of the Scripps National Spelling Bee: she placed 47th among 281 contestants. This year's local competition, which w…
Republican Councilwoman Launches Bid For State Senate Republican Councilwoman Launches Bid For State Senate Republican Councilwoman Launches Bid For State Senate
Republican Councilwoman Launches Bid For State Senate RYE, N.Y. -- Julie Killian, a Republican member of the Rye City Council, announced a bid for the state Senate on Friday. The seat is held by two-term state Sen. George Latimer, a Democrat from Rye. The 37th Senate District extends from Yonkers to Bedford and includes part of White Plains, North Castle, Rye and Mamaroneck.  Killian discussed her candidacy during a news conference at Rye Town Park. She promised to support term limits, fight for tax relief and improve public schools. “I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican in Albany, if you are ready for change and want to make g…
Digital Media Discussion Features Local CEOs, Venture Capitalists Digital Media Discussion Features Local CEOs, Venture Capitalists Digital Media Discussion Features Local CEOs, Venture Capitalists
Digital Media Discussion Features Local CEOs, Venture Capitalists RYE, N.Y. -- In celebration of International Women’s Day, local media executives and entrepreneurs held a panel discussion on March 8 at the Rye Arts Center. Titled "Women in Emerging Digital Media Leadership," the talk featured: Tina Exarhos of Rye, former CMO of MTV; Fran Hauser of Bedford, former president of Time Inc, Digital and a venture capitalist; Tiffany Pham, founder & CEO of Mogul; Shenan Reed of Bronxville, president of MEC Digital; and Johanna Zeilstra of Mamaroneck, entrepreneur and founder of the Womensdebate.org. The discussion was moderated by Suzanna Keith, a…
White Plains Rolls Out New 'Big Belly,' Solar-Powered Trash Compactors White Plains Rolls Out New 'Big Belly,' Solar-Powered Trash Compactors White Plains Rolls Out New 'Big Belly,' Solar-Powered Trash Compactors
White Plains Rolls Out New 'Big Belly,' Solar-Powered Trash Compactors WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Just in time for Earth Day, the City of White Plains is rolling out the latest in garbage technology.  The City Department of Public Works is piloting three "Big Belly," solar-powered garbage containers in the downtown area.  The larger containers are capable of holding five times the amount of garbage as standard trash receptacles by compacting the garbage dropped inside.  The compactors are solar-powered. The unit also features a foot pedal, which allows no-touch opening for residents hoping to avoid germs. The three test locations will be: 1 - Renaissan…
Local Business Owner Arrested In State Wage Theft Case Local Business Owner Arrested In State Wage Theft Case Local Business Owner Arrested In State Wage Theft Case
Local Business Owner Arrested In State Wage Theft Case This story has been updated. PORT CHESTER--A Port Chester restaurateur was in custody Friday after a warrant for her arrest was issued for failure to appear in Village Justice Court. The business owner failed to pay her former workers the first installment of $47,000 she admitted to withholding from them illegally, according to authorities. Port Chester Village Justice Peter Sisca issued a warrant for the arrest of Elisa Parto, owner of Elisa’s Food & Plus, a restaurant on Poningo St., after she failed to appear in court Thursday for sentencing. Parto surrendered Friday, and her passp…
Mamaroneck HS Hockey Team Advances To State 'Frozen Four' Championship Game Mamaroneck HS Hockey Team Advances To State 'Frozen Four' Championship Game Mamaroneck HS Hockey Team Advances To State 'Frozen Four' Championship Game
Mamaroneck HS Hockey Team Advances To State 'Frozen Four' Championship Game MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Mamaroneck High's varsity hockey team defeated Pittsford 5-2 on Saturday to advance to Sunday's Division 1 state championship game. Mamaroneck will play West Genesee noon Sunday for the championship. It's Mamaroneck's first shot at the state title in seven years. The "Frozen Four" playoffs are held at Buffalo's HarborCenter. Coach Mike Chiapparelli's Tigers are now 23-2, and ranked third among public high school teams statewide. The Panthers, state runners-up in 2012, trailed the entire game. Mamaroneck goaltender Tommy Spero had 38 saves for the win. MHS' …
Village Foot Chase Leads To Arrest Of Man On Drug Charges Village Foot Chase Leads To Arrest Of Man On Drug Charges Village Foot Chase Leads To Arrest Of Man On Drug Charges
Village Foot Chase Leads To Arrest Of Man On Drug Charges IRVINGTON, N.Y.. -- A police foot chase on Main Street in the Village of Irvington led to the arrest of a man on felony drug charges, according to Town of Greenburgh police. Lamarr Adams, 28, of East 229th Street in the Bronx was arrested about 7:40 p.m. Thursday after a short-term narcotics investigation conducted by the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force. Greenburgh police said that Adams was arrested after a brief foot pursuit near 2 Main St. in the Village of Irvington. Adams was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony. Police said Adams w…
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